Neil stalker



(No Model.)

N4STALKER. HORSE CONTROLLER.

No, 549,544. Patented Nov. 12,1895.

ANDREW EGRAHAM. FHUTO-LITHDVWASHINGWN. RC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

NEIL STALKER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE C.

. FORREST, OF SAME PLACE.

HORSE-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,544, dated November 12, 1895.

Application filed. September 4, 1895. Serial No. 561,417. (No model.)

To-aZZ whone it neay concern:

Be it known that I, NEIL STALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the class of horse-' controllers constructed with a part adapted to IO be attached to the bridle of a harness in such manner that a strong pull exerted on the driving-reins causes an impingement on the outside of the lips or mouth, which prevents the horse from tightly grasping the bit in his teeth I 5 and thus becoming unmanageable.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective device of this class which can be readily connected to a bridle in position for use in an inconspicuous 2o manner without a multiplicity of holding or supporting straps. Referring to the accompanying drawings,in which the invention is illustrated, Figure 1 is a view showing the device connected to a bri- 2 5 dle on a horse in position for use. Fig.2 is a larger side view of the device, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

In Fig. 1 an open bridle is shown in position on the head of a horse. In that view, 1 indicates an ordinary snaffle-bit having the usual bit-rings 2. The cheek-pieces 3are buckled into the bit-rings and connected with the crown-piece 4 and head-piece 5 by the usual rosette or button, to which also the throat- 3 5 latch 6 is connected. The reins '7 buckle into the bit-ring' in the usual manner.

The controller consists of a single piece of wire bent to shape. Loops or eyes 8 are formed in the wire for receiving the straps 9,

that connect these loops with the bit-rings, usually above the point where the bit and bitrings are joined. Projecting forward from these loops 8 is a wide U-shaped section 10, adapted to span the front of the upper lip of a horse above the mouth,and projecting backward from these loops 8 are the adjustable end sections 11. These ends of the wire are bent downwardly and inwardly from the loops 8 and then backwardly for a distance approxi- 5o mately parallel with the line of the section 10. The ends of the wires are bent to form loops 12, through which a strap 13 may be passed for drawing together the ends of the wires in order that their distance from each other may be regulated with a consequent adjustment of the loops 8. Loops 14 may be secured to the ends for receiving a strap 15, if desired.

By means of the cross-straps the distance apart of the loops 8 may be adjusted, and thus the device may be made to fit horses of varying size. When the controller is in positon and is connected with the bit by the straps 9, the end sections extend backwardly and inwardly under the jowl and the adjusting crossstrap bears against the skin covering the jawbone,so that the ends cannot tip up and in any way get thrust into the flesh of the horse. If desired, a strap may be extended from one of these adjusting cross-straps to the throatlatch under the neck of the horse, as shown in dotted outline in Figs. 1 and 3, which strap will also aid in holding the device and the bit back in the mouth of the horse, so that he cannot get the bit tightly grasped by his teeth. A strong pull exerted on the driving-reins draws the bit back into the mouth, and this in turn draws the U shaped forward section of the controller against the outside of the mouth in a manner similar to other devices of this class, so that the horse will relinquish his hold on the bit and stop pulling.

The device is easy to form, for it can be cheaply bent to shape from a single piece of wire of suitable strength with the desired strap-eyes formed in bending- It is quickly connected with the bridle in place for effective use. With this construction it is not necessary to provide supporting head or face straps that pass over the nose, down the nose, or under the lip at the bit, which are inconveniently in the way when putting the bridle on a horse, which require careful adjustment, and which tend to'disfigure the horse.

This device is simple and effective, it does not tip up and down or wabble around, and it can be adjusted for varying sizes of horses by adjusting means which are practically concealed from view below the j owl and which adjusting means prevent the ends of the bit from being jammed into the flesh of the horse.

I claim as my invention 1. A horse controller consisting of a rod of metal formed with a pair of bit strap loops, a wide U-shaped section extending forwardly of and joining the strap loops and an adjusting section extending backwardly and inwardly from the strap loops, substantially as specified.

2. A horse controller consisting of a rod of metal formed with a pair of bit strap loops, a wide U -shaped section extending forwardly of and joining the strap loops and an adjusting section extending backwardly and inwardly from the strap loops, with an adjusting strap passing between the ends of the adjusting section of the rod, substantially as specified.

3. A horse controller consisting of a rod of metal formed with a pair of bit strap loops, a wide U shaped section extending forwardly of an (1 connecting the strap loops and an adjusting section extending baclnvardly and inwardly from the strap loops, an adjusting strap passing between the ends of the adj usting section of the rod, and a strap connected with the adjusting strap and adapted to be buckled to the throat latch beneath the head of a horse, substantially as specified.

NEIL STALKER.

Witnesses:

GEO. O. FORREST, ll. R. WILLIAMs. 

